Device for cutting plaster-of-paris bandages



(No Model.)

J. L. HANGHETT; DEVICE FOR CUTTING PLASTER-OF-PARIS BANDAGES, &c.

.No. 453,239. Patented June 2,1891.

NITED STATES JOHN L. HANOI-IETT, OF SIOUX CITY, IOXVA.

DEVICE FOR CUTTING PLAST ER-OF-PARIS BANDAGES, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 453,239, dated June 2, 1891. Application filed October 16, 1890. Serial No. 368,833. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN L. HANOHETT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Sioux City, WVoodburycounty, Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in a Device for Cutting Plaster-of- Paris and other Casts in Surgery, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to partially cut plaster-of-paris and other casts and forms along a certain line as they are being placed upon the part operated upon, and thereby enable them when hardened to be readily separated along such line. The cast when thus divided on one or both sides may be readily removed, replaced, and adjusted, as the case may require, without material injury to itself. My invention effects this partial cutting of the casts by placing upon the part before bandaging for the east is commenced an instrument with a cutting-edge, over which the bandages are to be drawn and pressed, and thereby partially cut.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings represents the cutting-spine of the instrument which I have considered the most practical embodiment of my invention, with sharpened teeth, as a, and-a flexible-back Z9. Fig. 2 represents the instrument in use, being placed upon the cylinder g g to represent the part tobe bandaged, and bandage ff being wrapped about the same and over the instrument and pressed down upon the teeth of,the cuttingspine so that they cut through and protrude above said bandage, as at h.

The instrument shown in Fig. 2 is of a style described below herein, having a second flexible back 0 attached to the back I) of a cuttingspine which is similar to that shown in Fig. 1.

The best mode in which I have contemplated applying the principle of my invention is shown in the drawings accompanying this specification, and fully described below.

The back 17 of the cutting-spine, as shown in Fig. 1, is to be of thin flexible metal or other material and have teeth afiixed to it at an angle with its surface, with openings between them slightly widening nearer the back.

The teeth are sharpened at the end in a V- shaped semicircular or other form. This cutting-spine may be used as a complete instrument, with no other attachments whatever, as it is shown in Fig. 1, or it may be made with a second back 0 under the back Z) of the cutting-spine, as shown in Fig. 2. In case of a second back, it may be either attached to or be free from the back of the spine; but in either case it is to be of thin flexible material. In case of its being attached to the back of the spine it should be attached by rivets or screws working in slots, as rivete in slot d, or by other means admitting of abundant flexibility.

In using the instrument the back is placed upon the surface of the part over which the cast-is to be made, with the teeth projecting outwardly, as shown in Fig. 2. It is held in place by the hand, and the bandages are wrapped about the part and over and upon the instrument and pressed down so that the teeth out through and leave intact only the fibers of the bandages between the teeth.

In case an instrument is used with two backs and they are not fastened together, they are to be both held in place by the hand when bandaging is begun. When the cast hardens, a knife may be run along beside the teeth, cutting the remaining fibers of the bandages, the cast opened, and instrument removed.

If desirable, two instruments may be used, one on either side of the part to be operated upon, and the cast thereby divided into two parts.

When the part to be treated is verysensitive, the instrument may be used by drawing the bandage over the instrument and pressing it down upon the teeth only hard enough to cause them to raise little elevations in the bandage, but not cut through it. The fibers of the bandage necessary to be cut in order to let the teeth pass through it could then be out by the use of a sharp knife applied 0pposite the edges of the teeth. In this way very little pressure on the aifected part would be necessary, and the instrument might be used and even made with the teeth quite dull.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, in a bandage-cutting instrument, of a flexible serrated spine and a screws or rivets to the part carrying the teeth, flexible back at or about right angles to the substantially as set forth, for the purposes same to rest upon the part of the patient to specified.

be treated, substantially as describecbfor the JOHN L. IIANCIIETT. 5 purposes specified. Witnesses:

2; In a bandage-cutting instrument, the WILBUR P. BRIGGS,

flexible back 0, attached by slots and sct- EDWIN J. STASON. 

